Doing Titrations Flashcards
what is a titration
- a practical method of measuring the volumes of two solutions that react together
- and then using that information to calculate the concentration of one of the solutions
what is a base that is soluble in water called
an alkali
why do we use indicators in a titration which change the colour of the solution depending on whether it is acidic, alkali or neutral
- because all the acids and alkalis as well as the products made from them reacting are colourless
- meaning that you would need an indicator to visually know when the reaction is complete
what is the summarised method of a titration
- add the acid to the alkali until the equivalence point of the titration and end point of the indicator is reached
- record the lowest part of the meniscus
- record the titre
- repeat until concordant titres are obtained
what is a meniscus
the lowest part of the solution level in the burette if a concave shape is formed
what are the common apparatus used in a titration
- a conical flask
- a burette and stand
- a pipette and pipette filler
- a white tile
- a small funnel
- a wash bottle containing deionised water
what is the very first step of a titration
- rinse the conical flask with deionised water
- place on a white tile
what is the second step of a titration
- use a pipette filler to rinse the pipette with deionised water
- then fill with sodium hydroxide solution
what do you do after the pipette has been rinsed
you use the pipette to transfer a known volume of sodium hydroxide solution into a conical flask
what is then added into the conical flask
2 to 3 drops of an indicator (methyl orange or phenolphthalein)
what is then done to the burette after this
- it is rinsed with deionised water
- and filled with the acid solution
- to be set up in the stand above the conical flask
after you record the reading on the burette taking the meniscus into consideration, what is the important part of this titration
- adding the acid solution into the conical flask until it just changes colour
- in which you would then record the reading on the burette again
what is the final step in order to get concordant titres
- empty the conical flask and rinse it with deionised water
- then repeat the experiment again
why do you use a white tile
- it provides a constant white background
- for the indicator colour change to be seen more easily
why do only add 2 to 3 drops of indicator for every titration
- many acid or base indicators are weak acids
- so they have an impact on the end point of the titration
- this would cause inaccuracies if different volumes of indicator were used in different titrations for the same solutions